Great Success Story!

 

 

The World Championship 24 Hour race ? Taiwan   Here is my account of the hardest race I have ever run!  It all started on the eve of Monday the 20^th of February.  My husband, Ben and I boarded the plane for the long haul to Taipei, Taiwan. After over 24 hours in and out of airports and flying we were so glad to be landing!  I don?t mind flying but staying in a confined area for so long is tough for me. It is Wednesday morning and we are welcomed by the 85 degree weather ? we had just left below 30 degree weather, cold/snowy so this was a big change.  One that would come to haunt me in the upcoming race!

We checked into our hotel, took a walk and then went on a sight seeing tour that afternoon/evening.  We did not want to sleep because we wanted to make sure we slept that night!  On Thursday we went to see the course and we rested most of the afternoon.  I think the 13-hour time difference finally hit us ? we were exhausted!  On Friday, met up with some of my teammates and one of my dearest friends, Sue Olsen.  We (the whole team) met at the city government building.  We had the introduction of the teams and we went on the bus to the course.  On the way over to the racecourse our bus was in an accident ? no one hurt but it was time consuming. We went back to our hotel, had dinner and went to sleep.  For Ben and I, the last night in a bed until we got home Monday. Home for us is in Virginia.   The big day had finally arrived!  Race day ? for me it was going to be the fourth time I went to the world championship starting line. It is such a wonderful feeling in the heart to be representing the USA and I thought this race was going to be no different and boy was I wrong!  I was going into this race probably in the best fitness shape I had even been and was excited again about the challenge and wanting to place in the top 10 again.  I talked with Lisa before and she as always gave me great advice!  Run your race do your best and the race will take care of itself.  So, the gun went off and I settled in for the next 24 hours and ready to set the world on fire or so I thought!  Ben has everything ready each and every lap ? he never misses a beat!  He is my lifeline and I say we are a team ?without him at my races I would not be where I am today! The course was just a little over a half-mile loop and mostly all concrete and some marble.  It had 9 right angle turns and had a hill.  To me the hill became a mountain at about hour 20. So needless to say this was tough course  - but we all faced the same challenge.  The weather was hot/humid and the last 12 hours it rained not the best conditions.  The first hour or so I ran fine or so I thought ? then I noticed that I was sweating a lot more than usual. I just thought that was due to the fact that I was not acclimated to the weather but I know that was not the only reason.  Over the next few hours I started swelling (hands) and I knew something was not like all my other races.  I could not even pee and that really bothered me.  I told Ben to talk with Dr. Andy, US team doctor.  He advised me what to do and gave me a pill to take and monitored me the next several hours.  Around hour 10-11 I went to the bathroom.  RELIEF!!!!! Things started to improve and I felt better so back to my race!! Throughout all of this I passed Pam Reed a few times and she was running at a good pace.  She went out really fast and I knew that I could not go that fast  - I had to run my own race and that is what I did! After a while I came up beside Pam and she was in trouble.  She said she had wanted to stop but I know having run with Pam, that  she was not a quitter!  So, I said just keep running and we could help each other as we had a lot of time left!  So, Pam and I ran together the rest of the race. We shared many stories about our lives, family and running ventures.  We really helped each other in tough times.  I kept Pam going and she made me believe in myself more than I could ever know! We sure had our ups and downs but we made the 24 hours! Another race finished and we were ready to sit down and just let our minds rest that this race was over!  For me, I struggled more than I have ever struggled and now I know that I have to be realistic about what can happen to my body and me.  I just know that I also found our what the real meaning of teamwork meant!  That is why we go as a team!  Some may say why didn?t you just go on and run your own race but that was not supposed to be the case this race.  Lisa and I had talked before I left and we knew what I needed to do and overcome.  I just remember her telling me you can do it ? be strong!  I did that and I found out that I have a whole lot more in my heart/soul than I ever thought I could ever have.  So, as this race fades into the past I can only look into the future and know that I have a lot more to give and achieve.  Together, Lisa and I will work and more success will come. Even being half way around the world, all of my family, friends and Lisa were praying for me and God certainly answered their prays! I returned home winner in so many ways!  Love to all who read this and know you to can find something inside yourself you never thought possible when it comes down to it!  I did and am so grateful!

God Bless, Sandy Powell

 

Happy Feet!
Lisa Smith-Batchen
www.lisasmithbatchen.com
www.dreamchaserevents.com
www.tetonraces.com

Happy Monday

 Hello everyone!

 

What a great weekend I had!

Flew to Dallas Texas on Thursday and stayed with a coaching client and his family. What beautiful people:) It was colder in Dallas than it was in Jackson Hole Wy. The forecast for the race on Sat. was sunny and a high of 62 degrees. The Grasslands 50 mile trail race.

Start of the race was 7am and it was about 38 degrees but to me it felt colder.

The sun came out and I think it go close to 78 degrees which was so much warmer than they thought it was going to be. All in all "perfect" training for the Marathon des Sables.

I'm not sure how the race gets its name, Grasslands, should be called Sandlands!

Its a wonderful event put on the by the Texas trail runners. Half marathon, marathon and the 50 mile. It had been some time since I had seen the finish line of a race since my heart scare last May. All I wanted to do was run and walk the race and feel the joy of being part of the gift that we all feel when we run. I had 3 other coaching clients running and one of my very dear friends from NJ running to. The gun went off, the sun on my face and we started to run. I started to cry at the same time, just thankful so very thankful to God to be able to be doing what I love to do most next to being with my family. I ran the first 5-6 miles all at 80% and then went right into a run walk plan of 8/2 and then 7/3. As much as I wanted to run harder I really had to hold myself back, but like anyone who really wants to listen to the race plan I stuck to the plan.

It started to get warm, the sand on the course was perfect training and it was a perfect day. My stomach was not to happy for about 3 hours of this race and I have no idea why I could not get it to feel better. 5 hours into the race I felt great!:)

8:40 was my total time, good enough for 1st place overall girl! The last mile I cried again, I looked up and gave thanks for allowing me to cross the finish line and to be able to do what I love to do. My husband gave me an Ipod as a gift with 9 hours of new music on it, this made my day! I crossed the finish line and felt great, it had been a long time coming.

Finlay, Will, Todd and Paula all did well. Nice job team Dreamchasers!

Sunday morning sitting at the airport, my legs are not even sore just my toes! I was 2 hours delayed coming into Jackson Hole due to guess what? Another snow storm!

 

Have a great day

Lisa

 

Happy Feet!
Lisa Smith-Batchen
www.lisasmithbatchen.com
www.dreamchaserevents.com
www.tetonraces.com

SO BEAUTIFUL AND TRUE

 

Be exceptional.  Make tremendous efforts to be extraordinary.  What a privilege to be here on the planet to contribute your unique donation to humankind.  Just make sure you do so... --Shelby Lynne---Musician.

 

 

Guess what? The Mali Africa desert race is back! Dates are set for Dec. 2005. 125 miles straight though. Only 200 spots available.

If you are interested please contact Jay through our Dreamchaser web site.

 

Happy Feet!
Lisa Smith-Batchen
www.lisasmithbatchen.com
www.dreamchaserevents.com
www.tetonraces.com

Grasslands 50 mile

 Good morning to all of you!

 

I will be off line for a few days. This weekend I will be in Dallas Texas running the Grasslands 50 mile race. Looks like the weather is going to be perfect, NO SNOW!!!:)

I can't wait to see green grass and trees!

 

I will be with some clients who will be having a first Ultra:)

 

Have a great weekend

God Bless

Lisa

 

Happy Feet!
Lisa Smith-Batchen
www.lisasmithbatchen.com
www.dreamchaserevents.com
www.tetonraces.com

My First Ultra!

 

 

1995 my first Badwater.

I met Marshall Ulrich in the first ECO challenge adventure race. My team fell apart as so did his so we ended up forming a new team. This later became "Team Stray Dogs", where I was the first women on the team. This adventure race was very hard for it was so darn hot and through the desert. So many people were lost and ran out of water, we had to walk for miles with no water. One night during the race we had a blinding wind, sand storm and once we got to the transition area Marshall says to me, Gee Lisa, your pretty good in that kind of stuff you should run Badwater. I said, what is a Badwater. Marshall explained to me that it was 135 foot race through DV, it was hot and had a few hills but nothing to worry about. I had only run marathons, 26.2 miles. It was inconceivable that someone could run 135 miles, I had never heard of such a thing. My mind was very intrigued. Here was Super man, Marshall Ulrich telling me I could run 135 miles, I was more than flattered.

The RD of Badwater just happened to work for Hi Tec which was one of the sponsors for the Eco Challenge. Marshall took me over to meet him and told him that he really should consider letting me run this Badwater race. You had to be invited!

3 months later I was lined up at the starting line of the 1995 BW 135 mile race through Death Valley. I had called Marshall a few times before the race to ask him what I should be doing in order to prepare for this race. He told me to run with a few extra clothes on for heat training, run for 4-5 hours a few times. Hmm this seemed simple!

I got to Stovepipe Wells in DV 3 days before the race started with my crew. We had more supplies than 30 runners would have needed! The heat was something you could not explain to anyone. Put your head in an oven and just know that you are not going to be able to get out for a very long time. What was I getting myself into?

6pm was the start time of the race in 1995. The gun went off and I felt so at peace. I loved this place the minute my foot hit the ground. The smell filled my my, body and soul and I was sure that I had traveled this course before, but I just did not know when.

This was my first ultra marathon. I had never run more than 26.2 miles why did I think I could run 135 miles?????

Well, because Marshall told me I could:)

I remember so much about this race this year. Every turn every climb seemed to last a lifetime. I had never done any walking before, I was a runner. I was forced to walk up all these MOUNTAINS that consumed this race. I had no idea. They got bigger, longer and harder. I cried so many times, wondering what the heck was up and over the next hill. You see, I had never driven the course so I did not know. I did not read about the course I just listened to what the other told me about it.

Needless to say my crew and I made it to the finish line! I was never so happy to sit down, never do over the top with Joy that I did it. The feeling was something that I just wanted to savior. As we drive back to Las Vegas and back over the race course, I could NOT believe that I had just covered this course on foot. When you do something so unknown to yourself and then you go back to see what you did the reward in your heart will last a lifetime. I sit here and write and can still feel that feeling and still smell the smell of the desert that draws me back time and time again. BW 135, 1995 was my first ultra. I was hooked.

 

Lisa 

update sent to my coaching clients

 

 Hello everyone!

 

We will be leaving for the Marathon Des Sables on very early Monday April 3rd. I will not be able to return email on Monday. I will be able to check my email Tue. April 4th through Thursday April 6th. Then I will be off line until I can check again after the race sat. April 15th. During the time I am not able to answer questions you may email coaching client, friend and coach Ray Zahab with any emergency questions about your training. Ray will be able to give you the best possible answer in my place. Ray's email is ecofit@yahoo.com

 

During the MDS I will be sending an update to my blog each day. If you want to follow the race check out my blog and also go to the race web site.www.darbaroud.com (click on the little British flag to bring up the English text) for important race updates.

You can send us emails while we are in the race as well! To sign up for my blog go to www.lisasmithbatchen.com

 

 

 

The applications for the Grand Teton Races are now being accepted.

Trail marathon, 50 and 100 mile!

The course is beautiful. Race dates are Sept. 2rd and 3rd.

 

Go to www.tetonraces.com to sign up. We are sure to sell out this year.

Make sure you make your reservation at Grand Targhee Resort now to make sure you have a great spot to sleep and rest. The start finish line is right at the resort.

Great place to bring your family and friends. Spectators can ride the chair lift to watch you run up the hill!

 

Many new and exciting things are happening with Dreamchasers and I will do much better at keeping you posted. Soon you will be able to pay for your coaching fee on-line through active!

We have many new products that we will be selling that we will introduce to you when we return from the MDS. If you are in need of any products at this time please let us know by end of the week to ensure you get them before we leave.

 

Please visit the web site about the exciting camps that we are putting on. The May and Aug. camp with Marshall Ulrich are filling up so make sure you get a spot. All details about the camps are on the web site.

 

Jay and I will both be speaking at the Desert Spring Ultras on Sat. April 22nd. We will be showing the Outdoor Life Network film of the Marathon des Sables and then talking about multi day stage races and gear. Love to see you all. The Race Director of these events is also the RD of the Desert Rats multi day stage race set up very much like the MDS.

The race is in June. They are now offering to all of you a free race entry if you get 5 other runners to sign up! This is a great. I will run the Desert Rats next year, very happy to have this race here in the USA!

 

Below are several success stories and races from Dreamchaser clients. If you are not on this list that just means you will be on the next one update!:)

 

Heath: PR marathon 3:30:30

Olga: Hagg Lake 50k, 3rd girl

Nattu: 100k in Florida, 12:14:45! Had a PR for even the 50 mile in this race and ran 3.5

          min. walked 2.5 min. the entire way:)

Bob: Land Between Lakes 60K 7:53, PR by 20 min.

Jim: Has lost 3 belt notches and had exercised 5-6 days a week for the last 2 months!

Mark: 9 trails, PR by 26 min.

Frank: Sarasota marathon 3:53

Sandy: Frozen Ass 50k 4:47..New PR

Aran: Miami marathon: 3:32 and then Ft. Lauderdale marathon 3:28!

Angie: Has lost 30 pounds since the first of the year and is going to curves 6 days a week!

Steve: RR 50 mile 9:19!

Mel:54 mile race with pack 13:37

Beth: first marathon 4:47

Katy:RR 50 5th girl!

Farida: going to cardio rehab 3 days a week and loving it!

Ray: Won the Libya Desert Race!!!

Sandy: 24 hour World Championships in Tawaiin, went head to head with Pam Reed!

Michelle: Marathon PR 3:26 and then 1st Ultra was RR 50 mile, 1st women overall 8:10!!!!

 

Spring is here! Great time to do the Super Neera Cleanse! For more details just ask!

 

Have a great day

Lisa

 

 

Happy Feet!
Lisa Smith-Batchen
www.lisasmithbatchen.com
www.dreamchaserevents.com
www.tetonraces

Great story!

 Great story from a new client of mine!

 

 

In Gear I Trust:

Record Female Unsupported Solo Hike of the John Muir Trail, 2005

 

Even urban mothers of two have dreams. Mine was of danger walking in the Sierra's. In the dream this mother no longer bossed, corralled, cajoled, instructed, vacuumed, or laundered. She just enjoyed miles of mountains, sky, rocks, trees, flowers, and water. Sitting in the comfort of home, I refined my strategy. Owing to my chronic under training, I thoroughly invested in my new motto, "In gear I trust." I reviewed the latest gear specs. Then scrutinized every ounce. I ruthlessly cut straps and tags. To remove the water bladder pouch on my brand new backpack I don my high-powered reading glasses. Rummaging through the long unused big wall climbing gear, I retrieve my toothbrush. Its handle already shortened and drilled for lightness. Yes, I even weighed everything using a postal scale. I packed and repacked. The final outcome? A total pack-weight of twenty-three pounds. That included trail shoes, clothes and ten pounds of food. If I could repress my conservative nature and avoid carrying too much water between sources, I'd only have twenty-five pounds at most on my body. My husband witnessed this dance of planning and belief in gear over actual training and declared, "Just do it!" That's easy for a super freak to do. For this average Jill, I needed a secret weapon, the ipod shuffle! Oh! And an external battery pack, extra headphones, and batteries.

 

Starting in the dark of a new moon, I checked my watch at the sign for Happy Isles trailhead. It was 6:14am on August 27, 2005. Thanks to being married to "Hollywood" Hans Florine, I was a sponsored housewife. This meant I could lay claim to his Nike ACG Alti-Compass watch. Like other members of the over forty club, my eyes needed large type and bright light to make sense of watch faces and maps. That meant I also "borrowed" his Petzl Myolite 3 headlamp. There would be no excuses for getting lost. The blame would lie solely upon my feeble navigation attempts.

 

I began hiking on the Mist trail, which enjoys two extraordinary waterfalls, Vernal and Nevada. This certainly made the start even more beautiful and steep. After Cathedral Pass, I stayed south of Tioga Road. All of the stream crossings were casual. The mosquitoes even behaved themselves. I slept two nights high on mountain passes. Given the light pollution that exists in the cities, it was a real treat to experience the Milky Way in all its glory every night. The stars were incredible! In Evolution Valley, I discovered wild strawberries! Yum! Coming down off of Glen Pass, a northbound hiker warned me of a recent bear attack in Vidette Meadow. He also tells me that a hunter has been asked to destroy the animal. Yikes! Then I became preoccupied with bears. Of course, I've seen their "calling cards" all over the place. Particularly alarming are the trees sporting claw marks high on their trunks. I was already avoiding camping in the meadows. This just reinforced my preference for high and dry bivys.

 

Each day, I was averaging roughly thirty-four miles a day. The John Muir Trail surmounts eleven mountain passes ranging in altitude from 9700' to 13,484'. It culminates on Mt. Whitney's 14,4991' summit. That adds up to some strenuous hiking. To fuel my adventure, I packed nine Power Gels, two Protein Plus bars, six Snickers bars, one roll of Lifesavers, crackers, Indian Nan bread, seven ginger cookies, two Pria bars, seven packets of Uptime, three cups of grits, two packages of mashed potatoes, three packages of bean soup, jerky, nine cheese sticks, ½ cup of oatmeal, one package of chicken noodle soup, 12 slices of salami, three organic raw food bars, ½ cup of raw almonds, and ½ cup of dried fruit. I had considered leaving my beloved Jetboil at home, for about three seconds. The thing is amazing! In less than a minute you can be chowing down on mashed potatoes. Pop some beef jerky in there with the wild onions you picked on the trail and you've gone gourmet. Because it is so fuel efficient, I only needed to take one canister of fuel. Never underestimate the power of a hot meal!

 

For a solo unsupported effort, one of the most daunting concerns is food weight. Add the weight of food protection and you already feel like staying home. The current approved bear resistant canisters weigh almost three pounds! Ursack offers a responsible alternative. My older model weighs just eight-ounces. The soft bag of bulletproof fabric offers light weight, pack ability, and security.

 

Last year, I hiked the JMT for the first time. During the eight days it took I encountered snow, hail, rain, lightening and blisters! The blisters were a surprise since I usually have very stable feet. My mistake was in getting my trail running shoes in too stingy a size. I obsessed over the problem for a year. The solution was simple, go big. I mean really big. For the first twenty miles in my Nike ACG Cascades I tripped all over the place. I was hiking in clown shoes! There was another element to the shoe strategy, toe socks. The fashions of the seventies really are back. Even in sportswear.  Apparently, many ultra distance runners are using them. I can tell you that toe socks are the way and the light. No kidding! My Cascades were wonderfully agile and the socks cuddled each little toe protectively. Slide in some Superfeet insoles and you're in bliss.

 

Experience is a great teacher. Last year, I got thoroughly schooled in the inadequacy of my sleeping bag. The end of every day brought with it the certainty of another cold night of stoic contemplation. I figured I had done enough of that. On this trip I took a twenty-degree bag. Thanks to Mountain Hardwear warm oblivion was mine. To handle any inclement weather I relied on my old faithful 'suffer' sack, also know as a bivy sack. The weather turned out to be classic California. Beautiful bluebird skies, sunshine, and warm breezes graced each day. To counter the UV exposure, I used two Kinesys products, fragrance free sun protection stick & spray. This small family owned company makes sunscreens for people who don't like to wear sunscreens. I like their products because you can apply them without having to get your hands greasy and because my skin doesn't react to the ingredients. No matter how fast you go, you can't outrun the sun!

 

When I was planning my hike of the JMT I wanted to treat it as if it was a big wall climb. To do this, I would need to take everything I needed with me. There would be no re-supplies, food drops, pacers, telephones, GPS or masseuses. The only difference would the availability of water along the way. I read several books on the subject of lightweight backpacking. The most informative book I found was "Beyond Backpacking" by Ray Jardine. Another was "A Step Beyond: A Definitive Guide to Ultrarunning" edited by Don Allison. Without these resources I would have actually had to know something about hiking and backpacking. Other sources of information on moving fast were my husband Hans Florine, Russ McBride, Patty Haskins, and Jim Ficke. Thanks everyone!

 

I reached the traditional southern terminus of the JMT, the summit of Mt. Whitney at 1:07pm, September 2, 2005. That sets the women's solo-unsupported record at six days, six hours and fifty-three minutes! I was feeling pretty sassy about all this and decided to descend via the fourth class Mountaineers Route. Yikes! The route was really loose and uncertain. Here I had decided to go for a proper finish to a super aesthetic hike only to wish I'd opted for the mind numbing switchbacks that the day hikers were enjoying. At 6:41pm, September 2, 2005, I stopped the chronograph on my watch. "Good! Just enough time to get to the Whitney Portal Store." Then I ordered the meal I had been looking forward to all day, a cheeseburger and a beer. Doug Thompson Sr., the owner, asked me the same question he has asked thousands of other hikers, "How was your hike today?"

And then he listened with a huge smile on his face.

 

While waiting in town for my friend Mike Ayon to pick me up for a weekend of celebrating and climbing, I called home. It was then that I found out about Hurricane Katrina, the worst natural disaster our country has ever endured. Considering the enormous losses suffered, I am especially grateful for the simple joys of walking alone in the wilderness, hot showers, family and friends.

 

Happy Isles sign to Mt. Whitney Summit; 6 days, 6 hours, 53 minutes.

Total time; trail head to trailhead, 6 days, 12 hours, 27 minutes.

 

 

 Sponsors:

Kinesys

Ursack

Jetboil

Mountain Hardwear

Nike ACG

Superfeet

Uptime

 

Start:                                                                                                      

6:14am

August 27, 2005

Happy Isles Trailhead

 

Summit:

1:07pm

September 2, 2005

Summit of Mt. Whitney

 

End:

6:41pm

September 2, 2005

Trailhead at Whitney Portal via Mountaineers Route

 

 

 

Our Grand Teton Races!

 I guys and gals!

 

The applications for the Grand Teton Races are now being accepted.

Trail marathon, 50 and 100 mile!

The course is beautiful. Race dates are Sept. 2rd and 3rd.

 

Go to www.tetonraces.com to sign up. We are sure to sell out this year.

Make sure you make your reservation at Grand Targhee Resort now to make sure you have a great spot to sleep and rest. The start finish line is right at the resort.

Great place to bring your family and friends. Spectators can ride the chair lift to watch you run up the hill!

 

See you soon

Lisa

 

Happy Feet!
Lisa Smith-Batchen
www.lisasmithbatchen.com

training program!

 Hi gang!

 

Below is from a good friend of ours who's Dream is to qualify for the Olympic Trials and Olympic marathon! He is is law school full time and has a job on top of all of this.

Amazing, just amazing.

 

 

 

Back here in MN things are going pretty well I guess.  I was trying Indurox as a recovery fuel for a couple months and then a few weeks ago ordered some HEED and Recoverite to compare.  I'm still finishing off the Indurox but I have used the HEED for a couple workouts as well as a race this morning and have been real happy with it.  I've been much more attention to recovery over the last couple months and I think it's starting to pay off.  Today was the first race of the local team circuit and I ended up running about a minute faster than I deserved to for 8k.  This week was only 100 miles, but the previous three weeks went 125, 135, 140.  Between that and running two ten-milers yesterday, I'm okay with a 25:33 8k.  It turns out I was a bit conservative at the start though as I was expecting my legs to be totally dead.  So my splits went 5:28, 5:02, 5:10, 5:09, 4:44.  But that's how it goes some days. 

 

I've taken a page out of the ultra runners book and started doing back-to-back hard/high volume days on the weekends.  Saturday mornings tend to be hill springing and bounding with a recovery run in the afternoon.  Then Sunday morning 22 miles, increasing the tempo over the last half and trying to run the last couple miles pretty close to 5 minutes with another recovery run in the afternoon.  Then I just do one repeat workout on Wednesday and the rest of the week is mostly recovery running.  Though, I'm still running to school and back every day witha backpack--I finally started weighing it and it comes out to between 22 and 35 pounds, depending on which classes I have that day.  Luckily it's only four miles each way! 

 

Happy Feet!
Lisa Smith-Batchen
www.lisasmithbatchen.com
www.dreamchaserevents.com
www.tetonraces.com

Great Story

 

Great story to share from one of my coaching clients!

 

Happy Sunday

 

 

http://runmoretalkless.blogspot.com/2006/03/chuckanut-weekend.html

 

Happy Feet!
Lisa Smith-Batchen
www.lisasmithbatchen.com
www.dreamchaserevents.com
www.tetonraces.com

question

 Good morning to you all!

 

Today is a cross training day for me. Spin bike for 45 min. good pace, rowing machine for 20 min. good pace and then versa climber for 20 min. good pace. 15 min. core work!

 

I have been asked several times over the past few weeks about my health and my ability to train, run and race.

 

My push the VO2 max and my body to the limit days are over. Last May and June I was having some very serious health problems that led me to professional cardiology Doctor's.

I do have some permanent damage that side lined me for several months. The end result is that I can still do everything that I love to do, I just can't do it at over 80-85% heart rate.

This means that I can now stop and smell the roses, look at the beauty around me and know that it is Doctor's orders that I don't push my body to the limits any longer.

To be honest, I am more than ok with this. Everything for me is different knowing that I can still be part of all the events I love to do, be out there with all of you but not even think about who is is front of me to chase down!

I am thankful, more than thankful each time I complete a workout. I gives thanks to God for my ability to still be able to what I love to do with all the people I love to do it with!

 

A very close friend of my husband Jay, a women who is in her 60's gave me some of the BEST advice I have ever gotten. She said, "Lisa, the buffet is full, you have to make some choices."

 

Have a great day!

Lisa

 

 

Happy Feet!
Lisa Smith-Batchen
www.lisasmithbatchen.com
www.dreamchaserevents.com
www.tetonraces.com

THIS WILL GIVE YOU A GREAT LAUGH!

BELOW IS FROM ONE OF MY COACHING CLIENTS WHO ALWAYS SEEMS TO MAKE TO LAUGH UNTIL MY GUT HURTS!

 

 

 

 

 

How difficult can it be to run for 2 hours going 4/1 pulling a tire across snow.  I would think that it would only glide across the snow!  Also, what do you do when you have to go down hill!!  16 pound pack, you can do better than that!  Come on Lisa where is your sense of training, stop clowning around and get serious!!  You know I am only teasing you....good job!

 

But, here is what I did yesterday for my workout.  I ran 4 hours going 8/2 pulling a tractor tire that was attached to the tractor!  Plus, I had 10 pound weights tied to my ankles and it was 110 degree's in the shade and the wind was blowing 45mph.  And, it was all up hill....I did not wear a pack but I carried Avery Grace in my arms the whole way plus her Elmo doll....I am really tired this morning.

 

Reading your workout schedules makes me tired and hungry!!  You go girl....

 

Happy Feet!
Lisa Smith-Batchen
www.lisasmithbatchen.com
www.dreamchaserevents.com
www.tetonraces.com

Read about an amazing person

Hello everyone!

 

Click on the link below and read about my good friend and coaching client Aran Gordon.

Aran will be going back to the MDS with us this year, his 2nd time. This time to put his head down and race:)

Aran is one of my heroes for all he has done and does with his life and to help others have a better life. Never once have I heard this man complain about anything, his only focus is on what is good, kind and peaceful. This is the kind of energy he spreads to all of you, even a perfect stranger!

God Bless!

www.irondisorders.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Feet!
Lisa Smith-Batchen
www.lisasmithbatchen.com
www.dreamchaserevents.com
www.tetonraces.com

Great Quote!

 " Achieving goals by themselves will never make us happy in the long term; the point is who you become as you get past the obstacles necessary to achieve your goals. That's what gives you a true and long-lasting sense of fulfillment."

Anthony Robins

 

Happy Feet!
Lisa Smith-Batchen
www.lisasmithbatchen.com
www.dreamchaserevents.com
www.tetonraces.com

Wed. workout!

 Today is going to be a real challenge with the new snow.

I'm going to do a 2 hour run going 4/1 pulling the tire and wear my 16 pound back pack. Then 30 min. on the Versa Climber. Should be good and beat up after this.

Looks like the sun is trying to come out so I just might get to work on my tan.

 

You see, my heat training is wearing about 10 layers of clothes!:)

 

Happy Feet!
Lisa Smith-Batchen
www.lisasmithbatchen.com
www.dreamchaserevents.com
www.tetonraces.com

snowing again!

 Can someone please send some warm sunshine our way!

 

It is snowing again and they say it is going to snow until Sunday. Yikes!

 

So how do we get in shape for hot desert races?

I will start to tell you in the next few blogs. Running in the snow is about the same as running in the sand!

 

Lisa

 

Happy Feet!
Lisa Smith-Batchen
www.lisasmithbatchen.com
www.dreamchaserevents.com
www.tetonraces.com

question

Hi everyone,

 

I hope you are having a great day and that life is treating you well.

 

I have frequently been asked and was asked today what race is harder the MDS or Badwater 135.

 

My answer is:

In my opinion you can't in anyway compare the races. The only similar features these races have is that they are both in a desert and they are both hot!

MDS is a stage race where you carry all your own supplies for 7 days. You are given 9 liters of water each day at various check points. The distance is close to 150 miles over several different types of terrain, such as sands dunes, dried up river beds,rocks and gravel. There is little if any road running. This race you sleep out in the middle of the Sahara desert under the most amazing star filled sky with amazing people from all over the world, all with a story to tell! The bounding that goes on during this race between perfect strangers is like nothing I have ever experienced before and will last you a lifetime.

MDS is a journey of self and not one you are able to explain to someone unless you experience it first hand. The real test of MDS comes in your ability to make sure you have all the "right stuff" in your back pack. You can't have someone run off to the store to pick you up anything you must have it with you. Your ability to recover from day to day is also a very large part of this race. People think its only hot in the Sahara, it is very cool at night this is why you must have a very warm sleeping bag with you. You can visit our web site to learn more about the MDS.

www.dreamchaserevents.com

 

Badwater: is 135 on the road. The race is straight through, you only sleep if you wish. You have a crew to give you all the supplies you will need along the way. You need to enjoy running on the road to really love this race. The course is beautiful in so many ways, it is forever changing with each passing mile. The RD had 3 different starts for the race which makes it fun. The course is very difficult with the heat you experience. It always seems so hot due to the heat coming off the black top road. Badwater is a real test of survival with how your mind, body and spirit will hold up for 135 miles in a furnace that you can't get out of! This race is one of my favorite because of the course, the event itself and what you learn about yourself as a person along the way. I have completed BW 7 times and will be back this year. Each time I run the race I learn so much more about the deepness of my being that I have yet to explore. I always tell people that at BW the race does not start until 100 miles!

 

Why do I go back to both races: I have done many races that I never have the desire to go back to again. These 2 races have a place on my heart that I just cant explain to you.

The love for the heat, the desert, the ultimate challenge, the bonding with people and the universe. My thought it that you find a way to try both of these events yourself sometime in your life. If not to race them, you can be part of these events in other ways. Volunteer or be on someone's crew.

 

Both races are equal in the awesome experience but very different in most ways.

 

Have a great day

Lisa

4 hour run

On my way out the door for a 4 hour run going 8/2 at 80% with 16 pound back pack on. My 3rd back pack workout.

Its cold and SNOWING again, visibility is very low.

 

Send me some good energy!

Happy Feet

Lisa

Deep snow workout

Wed. we had 40-50 mph winds and blowing snow that was just like being in a sand storm.

My daughter Annabella wanted to go outside and thank goodness because I did to.

We of course have all the right clothes and gear.


For 2 hours this almost 3 year old and her mommy were out on snowshoes walking through snow up to our waist. Annabella kept

saying, mush mommy mush!

I could not move any faster than I was, my legs felt like

they had iron boots on them.

After 30 min. Annabella fell asleep. As much as I wanted

to go back into the warm house, I kept going being thankful that I had a kid that will

sit in a back pack for 2 hours, be supportive, encouraging and let mommy get kick

butt workout! At the end of the day Annabella says, we did good mommy!

Hope you enjoy the photos.

Lisa:)

My first Marathon: last part

My brother Perry found Stephen wandering a side Street about 2 miles from the finish line.

He had gone into a McDonald's to get some orange juice and then got off course.

His eyes were rolling into the back of his head and he said he had blood in his pee. Not good!

My brother Perry begged Stephen to get on the back of his motor cycle and stop running. Stephen refused to do so, said he wanted the $500 bucks and was not going to stop until he got to the end. He got to the end ok and  we later found out he had gone an extra 3 miles when he got off the course. For 3 days after this practice marathon Stephen could not get out of bed, I had to help him in and out of bed and get all his meals for him. I felt GREAT! Poor guy! My brothers gave Stephen the $500 and I thought he wad going to split it with me. Not a chance he said, I ran further that you did and look at the shoes I had on and did not even train for 1 day! Remember he had Converse flat top basketball shoes on.

The official marathon was 2 weeks away. I knew I could make the distance and I was really thrilled about this. My parents were at the finish line. I ran the entire course and loved having some people along the way yelling for all of us. As I was running up the finish line I can still see my father leaning over the rope on the left side of the road. He looked shocked that it was really me running up the finish. People were yelling out to me,"your going to Boston, your going to Boston." I had no idea if they were talking to me or what a Boston was! 3:13 was my official time. I qualified for the Boston marathon for which I had no idea at the time that this was the marathon everyone wanted to run.

The most rewarding part of all of this as I look back is having my parents at the finish line, sharing this with my brother who still to this day loves to tell the story of how he beat the pants off of me and that with no watch I qualified for Boston.

Keeping it all simple is the fun way to train in my opinion. Time, effort, energy and the belief in yourself that you can do anything you set out to do. This is really what it is all about?

Having 3 older brother's as you can see must have had an effect on me:)

 

Happy Feet

Lisa

From and 8th grade young girl

 

Below is an email I sent to an 8th grade girl that I am not coaching on line.

 

 

MY EMAIL TO HER:

 

You are amazing to.:)

Now you need to decide if you want to be average, good or great in this life and at everything you do in life.

Anyone can be average, it takes some work to be good but it takes time, effort and much dedication to achieve greatness.

Which one do you want? 

 
RESPONSE:

 

I don't want any of them.  I want to be extraordinary at life, and every little thing I do.

 

I have been wanting to change my whole image of myself for months but never got around to doing it.  I really want to be happy with my appirance but more important the way I feel about myself.

 

WHAT A RESPONSE FROM SOMEONE SO YOUNG!

People in your life!

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid
emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life, whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.

 

Have a great day!

Lisa

Ray Zahab wins the Libyan Challenge!

"The Libyan Challenge was truely a unique event for
Lisa and I to prepare for. Basically, we were heading
into unchartered territory ! A race of
self-sufficiency in the desert, 190 kms non-stop ! The
concept was to carry everything you would need to
survive for 4 days in the desert in the possibility it
would take that long to complete. You also had to
navigate your way with a gps along an unmarked course
through huge dunes, near vertical mountain passes and
long stretches of soft sand to the water cp's which
were approx. 25-30 kms apart ! Yikes ! The scenery was
incredible, and the experience unforgettable. It took
me a little over 31 hours of almost non-stop running
to finish, and with Lisa's ever present spot on my
shoulder yelling in my ear- keep going, don't stop !!!
, I was able to win ! Thanks Lisa !"

 

Libyan_C_T_1696.JPG (2235K)

Libyan_C_T_1279.JPG (2298K)

Libyan_C_T_1304.JPG (1832K)

Worth staying happy!

This is sooooo true !!!!!

                    Beautifully stated:

                    As we grow up, we learn that even the one person
                    that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably
                    will. You will have your heart broken probably more
                    than once and it's harder every time. You'll break
                    hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was
                    broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll
                    blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll
                    cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll
                    eventually lose someone you love. So take too many
                    pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never
                    been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend
                    upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get
                    back.

My first marathon part 2

I have no idea how far or how much time we had been running when I did not feel very well. I told my brother Stephen that I wanted to stop. He about had a fit. You are not going to stop, you are not going to stop until we get to the end and then maybe you will just need to run home from the finish line to! He knew all to well to tick me off, get me mad and I would shut up and get going.

I grew up with 3 older brothers and 1 younger sister, all of us less than 2 years apart. Having 3 older brothers that were all good athletes made me feel the need to be tough.

2 of my brothers were great ice hockey players, Stephen was one of the best to come out of our High School, one brother was a foot ball player and body builder.

My younger sister was into softball and basket ball.

Not having a watch during this marathon test or knowing how far we had run is just the way I still love to run. On effort!

A little over half way into this marathon test my brother starts to look bad, I mean really bad. His eyes were red and he was starting to stumble but would not stop.

He told me to go on ahead and wait for him at the finish, he was just going to start walking. I told him, No way! Leave no man behind. He yelled at me to get my A-- going or else, so I did. I waited, waited and then waited at the end. I could not believe that I did it, I ran all the way, 26.2 miles. Where was Stephen????

More to come

Happy Feet

Lisa

Hope to see you

 

Hi guys and gals!

I hope to see many of you at this great event!

Happy Feet

Lisa

 

 

http://www.geminiadventures.com/RATScamp.html

 

 

Spring Desert Ultra Trail Running Festival:

The Spring Desert Ultra Trail Running Festival is a weekend of fun and challenges centered around one of the fastest growing sports in North America.  The weekend starts with a pasta dinner on Friday night.  Racers relax in a casual setting and prepare for the 25/50 mile races on Saturday.  After the race, family and friends will meet back at the host hotel for awards, raffles, and an inspirational talk by Montrail?s Lisa Smith-Batchen.  Sunday begins with 5/10 mile races and is followed by more awards and raffles.  All races are run on rugged desert trails with some of the most beautiful scenery the Colorado desert has to offer. 

 

Desert R.A.T.S. Training Camp:

Whether you are training for an expedition race or you just want to discover what it takes to compete in a desert, multi-day stage race such as the Marathon des Sables or Desert R.A.T.S., see for yourself with the Desert R.A.T.S. Training Weekend.  Runners will sample the terrain of Desert R.A.T.S. and test themselves with three consecutive days of running, all under the guidance of experienced coaches and with the camaraderie of other runners in a non-competitive environment.

 

Desert R.A.T.S. stage race:

Run from Grand Junction, Colorado to the world famous Moab, Utah along the beautiful 148-mile Kokopelli's trail.  Distances will range from day to day between 9 and 50 miles.  This is a grueling event that will challenge the most seasoned athletes yet it is designed so that less experienced ultrarunners can train for and successfully complete the course.  The entire length of the trail is stunningly beautiful with jagged canyons and breathtaking vistas and Desert R.A.T.S. racers experience every beautiful mile.

Racers will rendezvous in Moab, UT on Sunday June 11th,  to receive their Expedition Journals with detailed course maps and final race instructions.  Early on Monday morning, runners will be transported to the start line near Grand Junction and head off for the first of six days.  Each day runners will be greeted at the finish line and directed to the tent city where they can mingle, access their gear, enjoy a hot meal provided by Gemini Events and rest up for the next day.  While sleeping gear and supplies are forwarded to the tent city for runners, there is a 3000 cu. in. limit for each bag (so think before you pack) and all runners must carry a minimum amount of mandatory gear at all times over the course of the entire event.  Each morning runners will rise for a light breakfast, also provided by Gemini Events, and an early morning start of the next stage from the site of the tent city.

Each night the tent city buzzes with excitement as the day's results and overall standings are posted and the nightly meeting is held to make announcements. 

Runners finishing the entire 148-mile course will arrive in Moab, UT with the satisfaction of having completed the ultimate adventure running race.  That night all runners completing the entire course within the established rules will be presented with a finisher's award at a memorable post-race party open for all runners and their families.

Power walking and 300 calories

Below is from a coachin client..The beauty of PW (power walking) and 300 calories an hour!

Have a great day

Lisa

 

 

 

Hi Lisa, 
 
I had a great day. I did 3.5/1.5 from the start to the end. For the first 9 hours I had a gel at the half hour (Hammer gel/Carboom), 2 Cliff Shot Bloks at the hour and cut down Succeed Amino during the hour. For the last three+ hours I drank water and ate pretzels along with Cliff Shot Bloks and Hammergel. The course was all paved asphalt, shaded for the most part and flat a pancake. I started out slow and got to 50K in 5:54:xx (a new official PR). I was able to maintain the pace, got my first ever sub-10hr 50 mile (unofficial, ofcourse) and maintained pace to finish the 100K in 12:14:45, a PR by more than an hour. I felt great the entire time with absolutely no stomach issues. So what was going to be a training run ended up being a great day. Other than the regular soreness I feel fine now. Thanks for your coaching. 

Right Foot: give it a try!

This is so funny that it will boggle your mind. And you will keep
trying at least 50 more times to see if you can outsmart your foot,
but you can't.

1. While sitting at your desk, lift your right foot off the floor
and make clockwise circles.

2. Now, while doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with your
righthand. Your foot will change direction.

I told you so .....And there's nothing you can do about it!

ha!!! sent from a great friend!

 

Hello Lisa,

 

This looks like something you would devise.

 

Love this!!!!

What did I do for training today???

 

2.5 hours pushing Gabby and pulling Annabella through deep snow. Seemed like about a 6 hour effort.

Sun is out and life is good!

 

 

 

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is a beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is life, fight for it!

Mother Teresa

My first marathon

 

 

When I decided to run my first marathon I had run several 5 and 10k. I heard some people talking about a marathon and I found out the it was 26.2 miles, I had to do it!

Near my home town was a marathon in early April, The Lake County marathon.

I had no idea how to run a marathon or really what I was getting myself into.

My 3 brothers had a bet that I could not do it! My brother Stephen said I can do it with no training! My other 2 brothers made Stephen a $500 bet that he could not make the distance. I was so worried that I would not make it that I had my mother drive myself and Stephen to the start line of this race so we could run the course the week before the race, just to make sure we could make it. No water, no gue, no sunglasses only the clothes and shoe we had on our bodies. I had no idea you even needed to drink water along the way back then!!! Its amazing how far things have come in the training and nutritional world.  My brother Stephen had a pair of flat top converse tennis shoes on and a pack of Marlboro cigarettes rolled up in his t-shirt sleeve. We started running and running. My brother Perry was going to be on his motor cycle every once in awhile checking on us to make sure we did not get a ride in a car or for that mater as he said, cheat!

 

More to come

Happy feet

Lisa

 

Book I just finished reading

I just finished reading a good inspiration book.

 

Why Courage Matters The Way To A Braver Life

By:John Mccain

 

The back of the book reads this:

"Were all afraid of something. Some have more fears that others. The one we must all guard is the fear of ourselves. Don't let the sensation of fear convince you that you're too weak to have courage. Fear is the opportunity for courage, not proof of cowardice. No one is born a coward. We were meant to love. And we were meant to have courage for it.

So be brave. The rest is easy."

 "We are taught to understand, correctly, that courage is not the absence of fear but the capacity for action despite out fears."

 

Worth reading.

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

Fear is your friend, honor it and trust it with all your heart!

 

Lisa

e-bay

It is so nice to have a home gym but to be honest It is so hard for me to train inside!

I love to be outside, like the rest of us. I have been able to purchase all the equipment that we have, one by one on e-bay! Dreamchasers now sells the rebounder so if you what to know more about these email me. My 3 year old has her own rebounder so she can jump when I do. Anyone who has little kids knows the challenges of being creative so that you get some form of training in.

Today is a day off for me.

 

Have a great one.

Lisa

My workout today

I'm back to getting up at 3:30 am and being able to train, which is such a joy for me. I love the wee hours of the early morning. I still can't get my lazy butt out the door in the dark, cold winter so I trained indoors. Our formal family room is my office/gym!

I have a treadmill, EFX, rowing machine, spin bike, rebounder and all kinds of weights to do core work. My husband Jay put a flat screen TV in the room for a Christmas gift and this makes it so nice! Today I watched the move the Million Dollar Baby. Now the body on that women makes you want to train harder!:) I used to box all the time for cross training and this it is an amazing workout. Workout: 1:30 on the treadmill on all different grades, power walking only. 30 min. on the versa climber, kicked my butt and then 15 min. rowing machine and last 15 min. core work. All before anyone else in our house made a beep.

I hope you had a great workout today to!

Happy Feet

Lisa

TRUE FEELINGS TO SHARE

HOW MANY OF US HAVE FELT THIS WAY?

Long time no talk. I'll be emailing A LOT more than I have been. My company is going through a major operational change... we moved our warehouse from NYC to OH and let me tell you, I put in over 75 hours of work the week before the marathon (i'm on the project team, I manage 6 people, I am working with the VP of sales to reconstruct our US sales force...etc... the list doesn't end).

I ran it though. Less trained than I could've been... but truthfully, the run was felt SOOOO good. I ran the same race last year and hated it and this year I found a peace I definitely needed. When I finished I had a bit left over, that is true, not one step was a tired one. It's like I ran like I appreciated running... sorta like eating chocolate.

I guess my circumstances forced me to not exactly reevaluate my goals, but rather adjust my expectations. Like I said, the race itself... I didn't push very hard. Usually when I don't push hard I feel like it is a lost opportunity. This time I really didn't feel that way. I literally didn't sleep the Friday before because who I love told me he didn't quite love me anymore... ha... or care about me for that matter. Anyway, I guess I'll get all my excuses in in the beginning of the year. But it does bring up a few questions I don't really have answers for: why do I run? what are my goals... time, finishing, enjoyment, etc??? I guess you can ask the questions and I'll just respond.

MY RESPONSE TO HER:

I have just read your email over 2 times, you are one amazing young lady with SO much of life ahead of you.

Its great that you get things done.

The place I want to take you is to a place of being satisfied with yourself!

Why do you run? Its a friend, a very good friend. It brings you peace, it brings you pain and it brings you stability that nothing else in life will bring to you.

Its the friend that will help you solve all the worries of the world and when something in life is bothering you it will seem so much less after you go out for a run.

You have so much talent in many ways, running is just one of them. You have not even come close to where this friend of yours, running will take you.

You are a very competitive person, I have watched you run and race and I have listened to all those others around you talk about how amazing you are and how much faster you can become with the right stuff!

With all this said, let's get the running shoes on and get going!

PS..I am very sorry about the love in your life. Trust me when I say that something much, much better is waiting for you.

Lisa